Firefighting polymer gel preparation onboard aircraft

ABSTRACT

A tank on a firefighting aircraft initially is loaded with water. A polymer gel emulsion vessel is provided on the aircraft, but is not activated and mixed with tank water until such polymer gel preparation is initiated by an operator. When initiated, a pump pulls water from the tank and doses it with gel emulsion. Double elbows and/or the pump impeller fully activates the polymer gel. The activated polymer gel is mixed within the tank by one of a variety of systems including mixing paddles or sparging with gas. In one embodiment, a hollow tower of telescoping form has a float to keep an upper end near a surface in the tank and a sparging gas entry is a controlled distance below the surface, such that gas of limited pressure, such as from a ram air inlet can sparge and mix the water and activated polymer gel emulsion effectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/174,745, filed on Jun. 6, 2016 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,195,471on Feb. 5, 2019, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/449,977, filed on Aug. 1, 2014 and issued asU.S. Pat. No. 9,656,108 on May 23, 2017.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The following invention relates to fire fighting aircraft which includewater tanks which can discharge water therefrom. More particularly, thisinvention relates to systems and methods for adding polymer gel emulsionto the water and preparing the polymer gel emulsion by activating thepolymer gel emulsion and mixing the polymer gel emulsion with waterwithin the tank, when such addition of the polymer gel emulsion isdesired by an operator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When combatting wildfire from the air, various tools can be utilized.One common tool is to load an appropriately configured aircraft withwildland fire chemicals, fly the aircraft over the fire or an areaadjacent the fire to be protected, and discharge the fire chemical fromthe aircraft. While such fire chemicals are quite effective insuppressing wildfire, the aircraft must travel to a reloading base andreturn to the location of the wildfire before additional loads can bedropped, decreasing the effectiveness of such aircraft proportional tothe distance the reloading base is from the fire and the time suchreloading takes.

In many instances bodies of water are available in the area where thewildfire is occurring. Helicopters can be utilized with bucketssuspended therefrom (or fixed tanks and snorkel pumps) which can beloaded with water and then flown to the site of the wildfire anddischarged. Water is not as effective as fire retardants or suppressantsin combatting wildfire. Also, helicopters have a lesser payload capacitythan airplanes.

It is also known to utilize airplanes for dropping water onto wildfires.Such airplanes are configured to skim over a body of water to load tankstherein with water. Such airplanes then fly to the site of the firewhere the water can be released.

Water's effectiveness as a fire suppressant can be significantlyenhanced by adding a suppressant polymer to the water. One such polymermaterial is provided under the trademarks FIREWALL ULTRA, provided byBroadRange Wildland Fire Chemicals of Cold Springs, Calif. and FIREWALLII, provided by Eco FireSolutions of Carmichael, Calif. One uniquecharacteristic of such polymer material is that merely adding thepolymer material to water does not provide the full benefit of firesuppressant capacity to the water. Rather, the polymer must be bothactivated and thoroughly mixed with the water. Shearing forces cause thewater to have the polymer fully activated as a first part of the polymerpreparation process, so that the fire suppressant effect of the watercan be maximized. A second part of the preparation process is mixing todistribute the activated polymer throughout the water load. A pump istypically used which provides the required shearing/mixing force toactivate the polymer.

While it would be desirable to add polymer to water in a fire fightingaircraft, complexities associated with the required mixing to impart thehighest fire suppressant effect on the water polymer mixture, requiresappropriate polymer mixing equipment. Such equipment requires arelatively large amount of power and has significant weight. When afirefighting aircraft is being outfitted for firefighting, it isdesirable that as much of the available payload capacity of the aircraftbe utilized for carrying water and polymer, as possible. Known pumpingequipment burdens the aircraft with extra weight thus minimizingeffectiveness. Accordingly, a need exists for methods to mix polymerwith water (and ongoing mixing as well up until discharge) with minimalequipment needed for polymer and water preparation before drop.

In some instances a fire fighting aircraft may benefit from first takingon a load of water and later, at the option of the operator, havingpolymer gel emulsion added to the water within the tank and activatedand mixed with the water shortly before the water and polymer gelemulsion are to be dropped. With such a delayed addition of polymer gelemulsion to water within the tank, along with activation and mixingthereof, an operator has the opportunity to take on a load of water in afirst step and not have the polymer gel emulsion immediately addedthereto. Then, should the load of water not be needed for firefighting,the polymer gel emulsion has not been wasted and the water can bedropped without concern for polymer release into the environment.Furthermore, should an operator determine that polymer gel emulsion isnot needed, water can be dropped without polymer gel emulsion.Furthermore, an operator can determine shortly before dropping waterwith polymer gel emulsion how much polymer gel emulsion to add to thewater.

Keeping water and activated polymer gel emulsion mixed within a vesselcarried by an aircraft is desirable both for fixed wing aircraft and forrotary wing aircraft. With fixed wing aircraft the water and polymer gelemulsion is typically delivered at a firefighting area by opening ofdoors on a floor of the tank which causes the water and polymer gelemulsion to be dropped from the tank. In the case of rotary wingaircraft, such doors on a bottom of a tank fixed to the underside of therotary wing aircraft provides one option of discharge. It is also knownto utilize a nozzle pointing downwardly from the helicopter or otherrotary wing aircraft, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,192,797 andco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/616,271, filed on Feb. 2,2015, each incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Beforeeither type of discharge, it is desirable that the water and polymer gelemulsion maintain a substantially homogenous mixture within the tank. Inthe case of rotary wing aircraft it is also conceivable that such mixingcould be provided within a vessel in the form of a bucket suspended froma rotary wing aircraft with such mixing provided to keep the water andpolymer gel emulsion thoroughly mixed before being dumped from thebucket or sprayed through a nozzle carried by the bucket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With this invention a tank is provided which is configured to initiallytake on a load of water and to later have polymer gel emulsion added tothe water with the polymer gel emulsion appropriately activated whenpassed into the water tank. Furthermore, the polymer gel emulsion ismixed with water within the water tank so that the water tank contains asubstantially homogenous mixture of activated polymer gel and watertherein, ready for dropping from the firefighting aircraft. The polymergel emulsion is not added to the water and activated until such apreparation step is selected by an operator.

Polymer gel emulsion cannot merely be added to water and be effective.Rather, two separate procedures are required for complete preparation ofthe mixture of polymer gel emulsion and water. The polymer gel emulsionmust be activated by imparting sufficient shear upon the polymer gelemulsion and water so that the polymer gel emulsion does not remain in ahighly viscous state, but rather is converted into an active statechemically bonded with the water. Imparting sufficient shear forces onthe polymer gel emulsion and water results in such effective activation.

Secondarily, activated polymer gel can still have a tendency to have anon-homogenous dispersion within a water tank, even after the polymergel emulsion has been activated. Rather, placing polymer gel into awater tank can result in one region within the tank still beingsubstantially only water and other regions within the water tank havinga higher than desired concentration of polymer gel activated with water.Hence, a second step of mixing is beneficially employed so that thepolymer gel and water mixture has been fully prepared for mostbeneficial use as a fire fighting material suitable for dropping orother discharge from the aircraft.

According to this invention two methods are presented for activating thepolymer gel. The polymer gel emulsion is initially supplied within avessel adjacent the tank which has a feed line leading to a waterpathway routed through a water pump. The water pump is configured totake water from the tank and place water back into the tank, preferablythrough a manifold. In a first embodiment, the feed line from thepolymer gel emulsion vessel can be passed through a positivedisplacement emulsion pump and into the water pathway upstream of thepump so that impeller blades rotating within the pump impart shear onthe polymer gel emulsion to activate it. In a second embodiment, thefeed line is passed into the water pathway downstream of the pump. Insuch a downstream configuration, the water pathway between the pump andthe manifold includes a double elbow with the size of the water pathwayand sharpness of the double elbow corners selected so that shear forcesare imparted upon the water and polymer gel emulsion as they passthrough the double elbow to activate the polymer gel emulsion and water.

The water and polymer gel emulsion which have thus been activated arethen routed through the manifold and back into the tank. To promotemixing as the second step of preparation of the polymer gel emulsion, anair compressor can feed air into the tank (preferably adjacent themanifold) so that sparging of the water within the tank occurs adjacentthe manifold. In addition to sparging (or as an alternative), a bafflecan be provided above the manifold. This baffle preferably floats on asurface of the water and is attached to a side wall of the tankdirecting above the manifold. Water is released from the manifold in asubstantially vertical direction (with or without sparging), and thenimpacts the baffle. The baffle is configured to redirect flow of thewater from a substantially vertical direction to a substantiallyhorizontal direction. The baffle thus promotes circulation within thetank which promotes overall mixing and homogenous distribution ofactivated polymer gel within the tank.

An amount of polymer gel emulsion can be routed into the feed line suchas through action of a dosing pump associated with the polymer gelemulsion vessel. As another alternative, an accumulator can be providedwhich is powered by hydrodynamic forces associated with the aircraftpassing over a body of water. A pressure feed is oriented so that highvelocity and/or high pressure water is fed to one side of a housing. Adriver is located within the housing. A side of the driver opposite thepressure feed is accessed by the feed line from the polymer gel emulsionvessel. The driver is biased towards a position which causes the polymergel emulsion side of the housing to be filled with polymer gel emulsion.In one embodiment a spring biases the driver in this position.

When high pressure or velocity associated with the aircraft coming intohigh speed contact with a body of water is encountered by theaccumulator, the driver within the housing is caused to move away fromthe pressure feed, pushing the polymer gel emulsion into the feed line.By appropriate opening and closing of valves, the polymer gel emulsionis delivered toward an output. Most preferably, an additional reservoiris provided in communication with the feed line of the polymer gelemulsion. When a valve adjacent the output is closed, this reservoir canbe loaded with polymer gel emulsion. In one embodiment the reservoir isconfigured with a moving piston therein and with air on a side of thepiston opposite the polymer gel emulsion. The piston moves thuscompressing the air and filling the reservoir with polymer gel emulsionwhich is pressurized by the pressure behind the piston. This charge ofpolymer gel emulsion under pressure can be held until an operatordesires to dose water within the tank with polymer gel emulsion.

By the operator selecting an appropriate switch, the water pump iscaused to commence operation and a valve associated with the output ofthe accumulator is opened so that the pressurized polymer gel emulsionwithin the reservoir can be fed into the feed line. The water andpolymer gel emulsion then travel down to the water pathway through thewater pump for delivery of the polymer gel emulsion into the waterpathway and activation of the polymer gel emulsion and water as they arerouted into the tank.

As an alternative to the static manifold within the water tank, themanifold can be configured as a rotating axle manifold fed from thepump. Such an axle manifold can be driven by an electric motor or byrouting polymer gel through arms extending radially from the axlemanifold with forces associated with the polymer gel exiting nozzles inthe arms causing the axle manifold to rotate. Paddles can be provided onportions of the arms extending radially from the axle manifold with thepaddles. The paddles cause mixing of water and polymer gel within thetank so that the water and polymer gel remain in a mixed, activated andprepared state for maximum fire fighting effectiveness when dropping ofthe polymer gel is desired.

Driving air (or other gas) into the water and polymer gel emulsionmixture within the tank can be particularly effective in maintaining thehomogenous mixture of the water and polymer gel emulsion. To deliver theair under pressure beneath a surface of this liquid within the tank, theair must first have a pressure greater than a pressure existing at thedepth below the surface within the tank at which the air is to beinjected. Sufficient over pressure to cause the air to enter withvelocity sufficient to cause relatively fine bubbles to be generated anddriven through the liquid is desirable for sparging of the water andpolymer gel emulsion.

In one form of the invention, pressurization of the air is provided by aram air scoop located on an exterior of the aircraft in the form of afixed wing aircraft. Velocity of the air causes air of sufficient energyto pass into the tank for sparging therein. Various parameters such asthe depth of the tank, level of the liquid within the tank, velocity ofthe aircraft, and altitude of the aircraft can influence the pressure ofthe air delivered into the tank below the surface of the liquid.

In many instances the air does not have sufficient pressure to reach afloor of the tank. To ensure sufficient velocity of the air foreffective sparging in all such conditions, with this invention a toweris provided inside the tank which has a fixed lower portion and afloating upper portion which has a portion thereof floating on a surfaceof the liquid. The pressurized sparging air is connected to the floatingupper portion of the tower with an entry point for the pressurized airat an elevation on the floating upper portion of the tower which isalways a distance from the surface of the liquid which is not too deepto keep the air from entering at an energy needed for effectivesparging.

Furthermore, this tower is configured within the tank so that acombination of the sparge air floating to a surface of the tank, andpotentially also action of a recirculation pump and/or a pump foractivation of polymer gel with the water (or potentially otherrecirculation means) can be provided to cause liquid within the tank tofollow a circulation path which causes substantially all of the liquidto pass at some point through the tower and experience the sparging forfull mixture of liquid within the tank.

In other alternatives, a pump can be provided within the tower itselfand an impeller element of the pump can act as the mixer either alongwith the sparge air or without the sparge air. The tower can come in theform of a housing (or housings) with a fixed portion and a floatingportion adjacent to a wall (or walls) of the tank or in the form of acolumn (or columns) spaced from walls of the tank which includes a fixedportion and a floating portion. In other alternative embodiments mixingpaddles can be provided either along with or separate from such spargingand without requiring a tower within the tank.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide afirefighting aircraft with a water tank which can be filled with waterin a first step and later at the option of an operator either remainwater alone or have polymer gel emulsion activated, added to waterwithin the tank and mixed with water in the tank for delivery of polymergel from the tank for firefighting purposes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method fordelayed preparation of waterborne polymer gel onboard an aircraft afterwater has been gathered into the tank onboard the aircraft.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a polymer gelemulsion dosing and activation system associated with a water tank on anaircraft which requires only a limited amount of power for activationand mixing of the polymer gel emulsion with water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method foradding and activating polymer gel emulsion with water contained within atank as well as thorough mixing thereof, especially a tank located in anenvironment where limited power is available.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a polymer gelemulsion preparation system associated with a water tank which powersdosing of polymer gel emulsion into the water through hydrodynamicforces associated with the tank onboard a firefighting aircraft movingrelative to a body of water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a firefightingaircraft with a water tank which can deliver only water when desired anddeliver water enhanced with activated polymer gel when desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixing systemwhich avoids excessive additional power loads on the aircraft byutilizing sparge air powered by a ram air inlet on the aircraft or otherhigh energy gas source to deliver pressurized gas into the tank forsparging mixture of the water and polymer gel emulsion mixture.

Other further objects of the present invention will become apparent froma careful reading of the included drawing figures, the claims anddetailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a firefighting aircraft with a tankthereon configured according to a preferred embodiment of this inventionwhere water is initially loaded into the tank and later selectivelycaused to have polymer gel emulsion activated and added to water withinthe tank, and mixed therein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tank for use upon a firefightingaircraft with associated polymer gel emulsion preparation equipment, andwith portions of the tank cut away to reveal interior details.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a water tank similar to that depicted inFIG. 2 but with a different location for an entry port into the tank.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of that which is shown in FIG. 3 but from adifferent angle and illustrating how various different fluids flowthrough conduits within the system.

FIG. 5 is a full sectional front elevation view of that which is shownin FIG. 2 and with water shown within the tank and arrows depictingmixing circulation caused by the system of this invention within thetank.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of that which is shown inFIGS. 2-5 and illustrating an alternative where polymer gel emulsion isadded to a water pathway downstream of a water pump rather thanupstream.

FIG. 7 is a full sectional detail of an alternative nozzle for deliveryof recirculating water and air into the tank.

FIG. 8 is a full sectional view of a further alternative configurationfor a nozzle delivering only recirculating water into the tank.

FIGS. 9-11 are schematic views illustrating three steps in the processof utilizing hydrodynamic forces associated with the aircraft movingover a body of water to power a dosing subsystem for dosing of polymergel emulsion into a water pathway leading into the water tank, thevarious figures revealing steps in the sequence of operation of thedosing subsystem.

FIGS. 12-14 are schematic views of an alternative dosing subsystem tothat which is depicted in FIGS. 9-12 which also is powered byhydrodynamic forces associated with the aircraft moving relative to abody of water.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative system to that which isdepicted in FIG. 2 which utilizes an axle manifold, arms and paddles formixing of water and polymer gel within the water tank.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of that whichis shown in FIG. 15 with offset paddles.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an alternative of that which is shownin FIG. 16 featuring three pairs of arms and three pairs of paddles.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of that whichis shown in FIG. 17 featuring two pairs of arms and two paddles.

FIG. 19 is a schematic flow diagram of a third accumulator for use withthe system of this invention to store pressurized activated polymer gelseparate from a water tank.

FIG. 20 is a schematic flow diagram similar to that which is depicted inFIG. 19, but after high energy water has entered the system and chargedan activated polymer gel reservoir with pressurized activated polymergel.

FIG. 21 is a front elevation view of a tank according to an alternativeembodiment of this invention shown within a fixed swing aircraft.

FIG. 22 is perspective view of the tank of FIG. 21 with portions of thetank cut away to reveal housings of a wall mounted tower for mixing andrecirculation of liquids within the tank.

FIG. 23 is a side elevation full sectional view of that which is shownin FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a front elevation full sectional view of that which is shownin FIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is a further front elevation view of that which is shown in FIG.21, but with the liquid within the tank at a lower level andillustrating how the wall mounted tower adjusts in height to accommodatedifferent liquid heights.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an alternative tower within a center ofthe tank according to a further embodiment of this invention and withportions of the tank cut away to reveal interior details.

FIG. 27 is a side elevation full sectional view of that which is shownin FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a front elevation full sectional view of that which is shownin FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 is a further front elevation full sectional view of that whichis shown in FIG. 26, with a water level shown therein at a lower levelthan that depicted in FIG. 28 to illustrate how upper portions of thetower float and adjust as liquid height within the tank adjusts.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of an alternative mixer utilizing thecentral tower similar to that depicted in FIG. 26, and with portions ofthe tank cut away to reveal interior details, and with structures insidethe tower shown in broken lines.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of thecentral tower of FIG. 26 and with portions of the tank cut away toreveal details of the tower and with details inside the tower shown inbroken lines.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a further alternative wall mountedtower with portions of the tank cut away to reveal details of the towerand with details inside the tower shown in broken lines.

FIG. 33 is a front elevation view of a rotary wing aircraft having afixed tank coupled thereto and illustrating subsystems for providing themixing tower such as that shown in FIG. 22 within such an elongate fixedtank coupled to a rotary wing aircraft.

FIG. 34 is a side elevation view of that which is shown in FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the elongate tank of FIGS. 33 and 34with the elongate tank shown in broken lines to reveal interior detailsof an alternative paddle based mixing system contained within theelongate tank.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals representlike parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral 10is directed to a system for preparation of polymer gel emulsion andwater for enhanced firefighting efficacy. The system 10 is configured sothat water W is first loaded into a water tank 10 onboard a firefightingaircraft A (FIG. 1). In later steps and at the direction of an operator,polymer gel emulsion is supplied from a gel emulsion vessel 30 into thetank 20 through action of a water pump 50. The system 10 is configuredso that the polymer gel emulsion is activated with water during supplyinto the tank 20. The system 10 is also configured so that mixing occurswithin the tank 20 so that a homogenous mixture of activated polymer geland water is located within the tank 20 when so directed by theoperator, so that the mixture of activated polymer gel and water can bedropped (arrow D) from the firefighting aircraft (FIG. 1) when desired.

In essence, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, basicdetails of the system 10 of this invention are described, according to afirst embodiment. The system 10 includes the tank 20 and variousadditional equipment located adjacent the tank 20. This tank 20 ismounted within a firefighting aircraft A in a manner allowing filling ofthe tank 20 from an intake 12 (along arrow I of FIG. 1) onboard theaircraft A leading to an entry port 14 into the tank 20. The tank 20 isalso configured to drop water (arrow D of FIG. 1) when an operatordesires to drop water, such as in fighting of a wildfire.

The polymer gel emulsion vessel 30 is located adjacent the tank 20. Thepolymer gel emulsion vessel 30 is configured so that it can deliverpolymer gel into the tank 20. An air compressor 40 is optionallyprovided which provides a source of sparging of water within the tank 20to promote mixing of water within the tank 20 with activated polymer gelemulsion from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30. A water pump 50 drawswater out of the tank 20 and supplies water back into the tank 20, withthe water pump 50 also facilitating feed of polymer gel into the watertank and activation of the polymer gel emulsion.

A baffle 60 is provided within the tank 20 in one form of the inventionto promote thorough mixing of all of the water and polymer gel withinthe tank 20 and to avoid dead spots within the tank 20 where little orno polymer gel is located. Water W fed from the pump 50 back into thetank 20 can be provided through an optional double nozzle 70 (FIG. 7) orsingle nozzle 80 (FIG. 8) to further promote thorough mixing of waterand polymer gel within the tank 20. A first accumulator 90 or secondaccumulator 100 can be utilized as a form of dosing pump for low powerdosing of polymer gel emulsion from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30into water passing through the pump 50, without requiring a separatepower source for such dosing.

An alternative system 110 is also disclosed (FIGS. 15-18) which featuresa tank 120 with a polymer gel emulsion supply line 130 leading to a pump150 which supplies polymer gel to an axle manifold 162 of a mixer 160.The mixer 160 includes arms 170 and nozzles 180 extending from the arms170 for release of water back and activated polymer gel into the tank120. Paddles 190 are also provided on the arms, with the paddles 190promoting thorough mixing of water and polymer gel within the tank 120.

More specifically, and with particular reference to FIGS. 2-5, basicdetails of the tank 20 are described according to a first embodiment andbasic variations thereof. The tank 20 can have a variety of differentgeometries. For simplicity, an exemplary tank 20 is depicted which isgenerally cubic in shape. However, the tank 20 would typically have ageometry which facilitates fitting within the fuselage of the aircraft A(FIG. 1) along with other necessary aircraft A equipment. The tank 20generally includes rigid walls which form a complete enclosure. Thesewalls generally include a floor 22 defining a lower portion of the tank20, an end wall 24 extending up from the floor 22, and a rear wall 26and front wall 28 on opposite sides of the tank 20 extending up from thefloor 22 and from front and rear edges of the end wall 24.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the entry port 14 is located inthe front wall 28. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the tank 20 isslightly modified so that the entry port 14 is located within the endwall 24. The entry port 14 could also be provided skewed relative to theorientation of various walls 24, 26, 28 of the tank 20, or could be inan upper wall of the tank 20, or could include multiple inlets. Theorientation of the entry port 14 is not particularly important whenpolymer gel emulsion is to be added later after loading of the tank 20with water through the entry port 14 (along arrow H of FIG. 4). Ininstances where some polymer gel and water is already located within thetank 20, the orientation of the entry port 14 can beneficially furtherpromote mixing as water is added into the tank 20.

With continuing reference primarily to FIGS. 2-5, details of otherequipment provided adjacent the tank 20 for polymer gel addition andpreparation are disclosed, according to a preferred embodiment. Thepolymer gel emulsion vessel 30 is located adjacent the tank 20 and isfilled with polymer gel emulsion ready to be activated and diluted withwater supplied to the tank 20. A feed line 32 extends (along arrow B ofFIG. 4) from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30 to a water pathwaythrough the water pump 50. In particular, the feed line 32 can either berouted to a suction inlet 34 upstream of the pump 50 or to a pressureside inlet 36 (FIG. 6) on a downstream side of the water pump 50.

Some form of dosing pump 33 or other system can be provided to dose adesired amount of polymer gel emulsion along the feed line 32 and intothe water pathway when an operator determines that it is desirable thatpolymer gel emulsion be added to the water within the tank 20. The firstaccumulator 90 or second accumulator 100 (described in detail below) aretwo forms of dosing system which are described below, while a pump 33 ofsome kind could alternatively be utilized.

The polymer gel emulsion must not only be added to the water, but alsobe activated. In particular, the polymer gel is activated by applyingsufficiently high shear to the polymer gel emulsion in conjunction withwater so that the polymer gel emulsion is converted into an activatedstate dispersed within water and ready for enhanced firefightingperformance. After activation, the polymer gel still benefit from beingthoroughly mixed with remaining water within the water tank 20 so that ahomogenous mixture of water and polymer gel is contained within the tank20 before dropping (along arrow D of FIG. 1) of the water and polymergel from the tank 20.

One method for promoting mixing within the water tank 20 is throughutilization of sparging. In particular, an air compressor 40 or sourceof compressed air is located adjacent the tank 20. An air line 42extends from the air compressor 40 and feeds an air bar 44 or other airinlet within the tank 20 (along arrow F of FIG. 4). Holes 45 extend outof the air bar 44, preferably on an underside thereof, and allow air topass into the tank 20. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, thisair bar 44 is located below where water is routed back into the watertank 20, with the air from the air bar 44 tending to carry the water andactivated polymer gel vertically and to promote circulation (along arrowL of FIG. 5) within the tank 20. Other configurations for the aircompressor 40 and air inlet can also be utilized if desired.

The water pump 50 is positioned adjacent the tank 20 (in thisembodiment) with the suction port 52 passing into an interior of thetank 20. Alternatively, the pump 50 could be located inside the tank 20.A motor 54 is coupled to the water pump 50 and causes an impeller of thewater pump 50 to rotate so that blades of the impeller draw water fromthe tank 20 through the suction port 52 (along arrow C of FIG. 4) andinto the water pump 50. While a dynamic pump 50 (such as an axial orcentrifugal pump) is preferred or some other type of pump. The water isthen routed along a water pathway to a manifold 56 back within the tank20. In at least some embodiments a pair of elbows 55 are located alongthe water pathway downstream of the pump 50. Nozzles 58 extend from themanifold 56 for delivery of polymer gel out of the manifold 56 and backinto the water tank.

To effectively shear and activate the polymer gel emulsion as it entersinto the water pathway, two configurations are disclosed herein. In afirst configuration, the feed line 32 is routed to a suction inlet 54upstream of the water pump 50. In such a configuration the blades of theimpeller in the pump 50 act on the water and polymer gel emulsion toshear and activate the polymer gel emulsion and water before they passto the manifold 56.

As a second option, the feed line 32 is routed to a pressure side inlet36 on a downstream side of the water pump 50. Such a configuration isdepicted in FIG. 6. In such a configuration the double elbows 55 areprovided where the water has sufficient velocity and sufficiently sharpcorners are presented that the polymer gel emulsion and water are causedto be sheared and activated by passing through the double elbows 55(along arrow E of FIG. 4 or 6). As an option, the double elbows 55 canbe provided even when the feed line 32 is routed to a suction inlet 34upstream of the water pump 50 so that both the impeller of the waterpump 50 and the double elbows 55 redundantly ensure activation ofpolymer gel emulsion and water before delivery back to the manifold 56within the water tank 20 (along arrow E of FIG. 4). Details of thedouble elbows 55 can be selected from U.S. Published Patent ApplicationNo. 2013/0112907, incorporated herein by reference.

The nozzles 58 preferably extend substantially vertically away from themanifold 56 to promote circulation within the tank 20 (along arrow L ofFIG. 5) as one alternative. To further promote such circulation, thebaffle 60 is provided within the tank 20. This baffle 60 includes asubstantially planar wall surface 64 perpendicular to a substantiallyplanar top surface 66 and with a curving surface 68 extending from alower mostly vertical orientation to an upper mostly horizontalorientation. The curving surface 68 curves away from the end wall 24 ofthe tank 20 to which the baffle 60 is mounted. Tracks 62 are located onthis end wall 24 with slots 63 in the tracks 62. Slides 65 on the baffle60 ride within the slots 63 to allow the baffle 60 to move up and downalong the tracks 62.

The baffle 60 has a density which causes it to float on water W withinthe tank 20 (FIG. 5). For instance, the baffle 60 can be hollow tofacilitate such flotation. The curving surface 68 is thus strategicallypositioned to redirect the water W effectively in a recirculationpathway (along arrow L of FIG. 5), so that no dead spots of lowconcentration polymer gel are presented within the tank 20.

To further promote mixing within the tank 20, various different specificnozzle configurations can be provided. The double nozzle 70 (FIG. 7)provides one configuration for air from the air compressor 40 and waterfrom the water pump 50 to be returned back into the water tank tomaximize mixing within the water tank for homogenous distribution offully activated polymer gel and water. This double nozzle 70 includes awater tube 72 providing one form of manifold at a lower portion of thisarrangement and an air tube 74 above the water tube 72. An inner nozzle76 extends up from the water tube 72. A plurality of such inner nozzles76 extend up from the water tube 72, such as the three nozzles depictedin FIG. 2, but with a greater or lesser number of nozzles optionallybeing provided.

The inner nozzles 76 are surrounded by a shroud 78. This shroud 78extends up from the air tube 74 and is open between the inner nozzle 76and the shroud 72 into the air tube 74, so that air can leave the airtube 74 and extend up between the inner nozzle 76 and the shroud 78 inan annular space extending to an upper end of the inner nozzle 76.Preferably this shroud 78 extends slightly beyond an upper end of theinner nozzle 76. The inner nozzle 76 passes through the air tube 74 inthis particular embodiment.

Water W within the water tube 72 is directed up through the inner nozzle76 (along arrow J of FIG. 7). Air X within the air tube 74 travels upbetween the shroud 78 and inner nozzle 76 in an annular spacesurrounding the water passing along arrow J. This air is depicted asbubbles of air X passing along arrow K (FIG. 7). To some extent theinner nozzle 76 acts as a form of Venturi to further energize and suckthe air X from the air tube 74 and out adjacent the upper end of theinner nozzle 76 to energize the bubbles of air X exiting with the waterW. In this way, highly energetic flow extending vertically from thenozzles and with air entrained therein promotes thorough mixing of theactivated polymer gel included with the water W, for full mixing withinthe tank 20 (FIG. 2).

In another nozzle embodiment, the single nozzle 80 (FIG. 8) canalternatively be provided. With the single nozzle 80, an embodiment isshown where no air compressor 40 supplies air into the tank 20, or whereair from the air compressor 40 is delivered into the tank 20 at alocation spaced from where water is introduced into the tank 20. Withthe single nozzle 80, a water tube 82 feeds a plurality of insidenozzles 86 extending substantially vertically upward therefrom. An outershroud 88 surrounds the inside nozzle 86. The outer shroud 88 extendsdown to a skirt 89 extending below the water tube 82. The skirt 89 isopen at a lower end thereof. Flow of water W out of the inside nozzle 86(along arrow J of FIG. 8) creates a Venturi effect tending to suckadditional water up through the annular space between the outer shroud88 and the inside nozzle 86, for flow of water along arrows J′.

This water is initially sucked up into the skirt 89 along arrow J′ andthen up around the space between the inside nozzle 86 and outer shroud88 until it is discharged adjacent an upper end of the inside nozzle 86for vertical flow into the tank 20. With the single nozzle 80, apotential dead space in a lower corner of the tank 20 beneath the watertube 82 is effectively sucked up into the skirt 89 and caused to bemixed with other water within the tank 20 to further promote homogenousmixing of activated gel emulsion with water inside the tank 20.

With particular reference to FIGS. 9-14, a first accumulator 90 (FIGS.9-11) and a second accumulator 100 (FIGS. 12-14) are described which actas an alternative to a basic dosing pump for dosing a water pathway withpolymer gel emulsion when desired by an operator. The first accumulator90 includes a pressure feed 92 leading into a housing 94. This housing94 includes a driver 95 therein. The driver 95 is configured with twopistons and a rigid link between the two pistons which cause the driver95 to move between a first position and a second position.

A spring 96 or other biasing element is interposed between the housing94 and the driver 95 to bias the driver 95 toward a first polymer gelemulsion storing position (FIG. 9). The first accumulator 90 has an endof the housing 94 opposite the pressure feed 92 in communication withthe feed line 32 downstream from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30.This feed line 32 leads through a flow rate/amount control valve 97 toan output 99.

A reservoir 98 is also located along this feed line 32. The reservoir isan enclosure with an inlet open to the feed line 32 and with a pistontherein, and with a biasing element, such as a chamber of air which canbe compressed, or a spring located on a side of the piston opposite theinlet into this pressurized dose holding reservoir 98.

The first accumulator 90 allows for dosing of polymer gel emulsion fromthe polymer gel emulsion vessel 30 without requiring (or requiring less)electric power or other power taken from the aircraft A. Rather,hydrodynamic forces associated with the aircraft A traveling rapidlyover a stationary body of water are beneficially utilized to storepolymer gel emulsion under pressure for delivery when desired into awater pathway leading into the tank 20. Operation of the firstaccumulator 90 proceeds as follows. First, the pressure feed 92 of thefirst accumulator 90 is brought into contact with high velocity and/orhigh pressure water, such as water being forced into the intake 12(FIG. 1) or a separate pitot tube type inlet passing into the water whenthe aircraft A is skimming over a surface of the water.

High energy water is driven through the pressure feed 92 into thehousing 94. A check valve is provided along the pressure feed 92 whichallows water to pass into the housing 94 from the pressure feed 92, butnot to return. A solenoid bypass is provided which can be selected to beopened or closed and is opened when desired to have water return backfrom the housing 94 through the pressure feed 92 after polymer gelemulsion has been accumulated and pressurized by the first accumulator90. A second solenoid or other valve and check valve are provided inseries adjacent the output 99 of the first accumulator 90 along with theflow control valve 97. When the pressure feed 92 initially bringspressurized water into the housing 94, the solenoid adjacent the output99 is closed. The check valve adjacent the output 99 is oriented so thatpolymer gel emulsion can leave the first accumulator 90 (if the solenoidvalve is open), but not return back through the first accumulator 90.

Before the pressure feed 92 is brought into contact with high energywater, and with the solenoid adjacent the pressure feed 92 open and withthe solenoid adjacent the output 99 closed, the spring 96 within thehousing 94 will cause the driver 95 to move toward the pressure feed 92and cause induction of a charge of polymer gel emulsion from the feedline 32 into an upper portion of the housing 94 above the driver 95 (bymotion of the driver 95 along arrow M of FIG. 9). Then, when high energywater passes through the pressure feed 92 and into the housing 94 belowthe driver 95, sufficient force is applied on the driver 95 to overcomeforce of the spring 96 or other biasing element, and the driver 95 iscaused to move upward to a second position, expelling the polymer gelemulsion into the feed line 32 with a high amount of associatedpressure.

Because the solenoid valve adjacent the output 99 is closed, and becausethe feed line 32 has a one way check valve between the feed line 32 andthe polymer gel emulsion vessel 30, the only option for the polymer gelemulsion contained within the housing 94 above the driver 95 is to passinto the feed line 32 and along the feed line 32 toward the output 99,and then into the reservoir 98. Thus, the piston within the reservoir 98moves upward (along arrow N of FIG. 10) and compressed air or otherbiasing element above the piston within the reservoir 98 is put into apressurized or otherwise energized state.

The solenoid adjacent the pressure feed 92 remains closed, and thesolenoid adjacent the output 99 remains closed, so that the driver 95remains in an elevated position and with the spring 96 or other biasingelement within the housing 94 compressed or otherwise energized and withpressurized polymer gel emulsion stored within the reservoir 98. Thepressurized polymer gel emulsion can be stored within the reservoir 98of the first accumulator 90 while the tank 20 is filled with water.

At a later time, should an operator decide that it would be beneficialto add polymer gel emulsion into the tank 20, the operator can controlthe solenoid adjacent the output 99 to transition it to an open state.The compressed air or other biasing element above the piston within thereservoir 98 will then move downward (along arrow P of FIG. 11) at leastpartway, and polymer gel emulsion will be forced out of the output 99 inan amount allowed by the flow control valve 97. This flow control valvecould be set to allow a selectable amount of polymer gel emulsion to bedischarged, or to control a flow rate, and is preferably adjustable byan operator. This dose of polymer gel emulsion is then fed along thefeed line 32 down to the water pathway passing through the water pump 50(FIGS. 2-5) for activation and mixing with water within the tank 20.

Finally, when this dosing is complete, the solenoid adjacent thepressure feed 92 can be opened to allow water within the housing 94 andbelow the driver 95 to pass out of the housing 94 and so that the spring96 or other biasing element within the housing 94 can return the driver95 to its original position (by movement of the driver 95 along arrow Mof FIG. 9) and recharge the upper portion of the housing 94 with polymergel emulsion. The first accumulator 90 is then ready to repeat thedosing accumulation and supply process described above.

The second accumulator 100 is shown in FIGS. 12-14, as an alternative tothe first accumulator 90. With the second accumulator 100, a pressurefeed 102 passes through a check valve and with a bypass solenoid. Tworeservoirs are provided adjacent the pressure feed 102 of the secondaccumulator 100, including an air reservoir 104 and fluid reservoir 106.The air reservoir 104 has an air piston 105 therein with air above theair piston 105 and water below the air piston 105. As an alternative,the air reservoir 104 can be fitted with a biasing element (such as aspring) above the air piston 105 rather than with compressed air. Inanother embodiment, air within the air reservoir 104 and above the airpiston 105 can be contained within a bladder of flexible configurationso that the air does not leak and the piston does not need to maintain ahigh quality seal (this is also an option for the reservoir 98 of thefirst accumulator 90).

The fluid reservoir 106 includes a fluid piston 107 therein. Water issupplied below the fluid piston 107 and polymer gel emulsion from thefeed line 32 is provided above the fluid piston 107. The pressure feed102 is configured as a manifold line which feeds both the air reservoir104 below the air piston 105 and the fluid reservoir 106 below the fluidpiston 107. An upper end of the air reservoir 104 is closed. An upperend of the fluid reservoir 106 is in communication with the feed line 32from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30. This feed line 32 also passesto a supply 109 after passing through a solenoid, a flow control valve108 and a check valve, similar to that of the first accumulator 90,which limits polymer gel emulsion flow from being out of the secondaccumulator 100 and not back into the second accumulator 100 through thesupply 109.

In operation, and reviewing FIGS. 12-14 in sequence, the air piston 105and fluid piston 107 are both in lower orientations initially. The airpiston 105 is biased towards this lower position by the compressed airor other biasing element above the air piston 105. A biasing element,such as a spring, is also preferably located above the fluid piston 107to bias the fluid piston 107 towards this lower position. Action of thisbiasing element causes the fluid piston 107 to move downward and to drawpolymer gel emulsion from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30 and throughthe feed line 32 into the fluid reservoir 106 above the fluid piston 107(along arrow Q of FIG. 12). During this initial loading of polymer gelemulsion into the fluid reservoir 106, the solenoid adjacent thepressure feed 102 is open and the solenoid valve adjacent the supply 109is closed.

When the pressure feed 102 comes into contact with high energy fluid,such as that associated with the intake 12 coming into contact with abody of water while the aircraft A passes at high speed over the body ofwater, or through a pitot tube extending into the body of water from theaircraft A, the high energy water passes through the pressure feed 102to supply high energy water into the air reservoir 104 and the fluidreservoir 106. Because the solenoid valve adjacent the supply 109 isclosed, and because a check valve is provided along the feed line 32,the fluid piston 107 is prevented from moving. Rather, it remains in alower position. Thus, the only portion of the second accumulator 100which can accommodate this high energy water passing into the pressurefeed 102 is by upward movement of the air piston 105 within the airreservoir 104 (along arrow R of FIG. 13). The air reservoir 104 is thusloaded with high pressure water. The solenoid adjacent the pressure feed102 remains closed and the check valve along the pressure feed 102causes this pressurized water to remain pressurized within the airreservoir 104.

Later, when an operator decides to have polymer gel emulsion added to awater pathway leading into the tank 20, the solenoid valve adjacent thesupply 109 is opened. The pressurized water within the air reservoir 104then acts upon the fluid piston 107 within the fluid reservoir 106,causing the fluid piston 107 to move upward (along arrow T) and the airpiston 105 within the air reservoir 104 to move downward (along arrow Sof FIG. 14). Movement of the fluid piston 107 at least partway upwardalong arrow T causes polymer gel emulsion to be supplied into the feedline 32 and through flow control valve 108 to the supply 109 for routinginto the water pathway leading to the tank 20 (FIG. 2).

The solenoid valve adjacent the supply 109 is then closed and thesolenoid valve adjacent the pressure feed 102 is opened. This allowspressurized water in the pressure feed 102 to drain back out of thepressure feed 102 and for biasing elements adjacent the fluid piston 107and air piston 105 to return to lower positions and for recharging ofthe fluid reservoir 106 with polymer gel emulsion (by movement of thefluid piston 107 along arrow Q of FIG. 12). The second accumulator 100is then charged and ready to be pressurized by hydrodynamic forces andto again dose water within the tank 20 with polymer gel emulsion later.

With particular reference to FIGS. 15-18, details of an alternativesystem 110 are described, which achieves mixing of activated polymer gelemulsion with water within the tank 20 through a mixer 160 locatedwithin a tank 120. This alternate system 110 includes the tank 120generally similar to the tank 20 of FIGS. 1-6. A gel emulsion supplyline 130 passes through a valve 132 or other accumulator or dosing pumpfor dosing polymer gel emulsion into a water pathway leading from thewater tank 120 and back into the water tank 120.

A pump 150 is located between a dual suction intake 152 on a suctionside of the pump 150 and a riser 156 on an output side of the pump 150.The dual suction intake 152 beneficially pulls water from lower cornersof the tank 120 which might otherwise be dead spots which might not bethoroughly mixed with activated polymer gel emulsion otherwise. As analternative, a single intake or multiple intakes could be provided.

The gel emulsion supply line 130 can be fed into a suction side of thepump 150 or a pressurized side of the pump 150 (as shown in FIG. 15). Asshown in FIG. 15, shearing and full activation of the polymer gelemulsion occurs by routing of the polymer gel emulsion and water througha double elbow 154 having sufficient velocity and sufficiently sharpcorners to fully activate the polymer gel emulsion. As an alternative,and as depicted in FIGS. 2-5, the gel emulsion supply line 132 can feeda suction side of the pump 150 where blades of an impeller act upon thewater and polymer gel emulsion to fully activate the polymer gelemulsion.

The activated polymer gel and water are fed up into the riser 156 andthen pass into a mixer 160. This mixer 160 includes an axle manifold 162laterally spanning the tank 120. A motor 164 is optionally provided atan end of the axle manifold 162 opposite the riser 156 and pump 150. Themotor 164 can rotate the axle manifold 162 in one embodiment of theinvention. Preferably, the axle manifold 162 is powered by forcesassociated with water and polymer gel being discharged from the axlemanifold 162 rather than force supplied by the motor 164. As a furtheralternative, both power of the motor 164 and forces associated withwater and polymer gel exiting the axle manifold 162 can cause the axlemanifold 162 to rotate. Alternatively, the motor 164 can merely be usedafter dosing is done.

The axle manifold 162 has a plurality of arms 170 extending radiallytherefrom. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 15, four arms 170 extendfrom each end of the axle manifold 162. These arms 170 extend linearlyand are provided in pairs which are oriented in a common plane. Thesepairs of arms 170 are spaced 90° apart from other pairs of arms 170 inthe embodiment depicted in FIG. 15 for equal spacing. Tips of the arms170 are fitted with nozzles 180 which extend perpendicular to a longaxis of the arms 170, and generally oriented circumferentially relativeto a central axis of the axle manifold 162. Polymer gel is thusdischarged (along arrow U of FIG. 15). This in turn causes rotation ofthe axle manifold 162 (about arrow V). Most preferably, paddles 190 spaneach pair of parallel arms 170. The paddles 190 thus revolve about theaxle manifold 162 and stir water and polymer gel within the tank 120.

With particular reference to FIG. 16, a slightly modified mixer 160′ isdisclosed. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 16, standoffs connect thepaddles 190 to the arms 170. The arms are oriented parallel with eachother, but the standoffs include short standoffs 192 and long standoffs194. Because the short standoffs 192 are provided on one of each pair ofarms 170 and the long standoffs 194 are provided on the other of thepair of arms 170, the paddles 190 are non-parallel with the axlemanifold central axis, rather having a skewed relationship relative tothe central axis of the axle manifold 162. This tends to promote lateraland full mixing within the tank 20. While each of the pairs of arms 170are shown with the mixer 160′ of FIG. 16 including both a short standoff192 and a long standoff 194, it is conceivable that some paddles 190would be attached without standoffs to further provide variability inthe action of the mixer 160′ for full homogenous distribution of polymergel and water within the tank 120.

FIG. 17 depicts a further alternative mixer 160″. The mixer 160″includes three pairs of arms 170 rather than four pairs of arms 170oriented parallel with each other and extending radially from the axlemanifold 162. In this embodiment, the mixer 160″ features standoffs 192,194 which are angled so that the paddles 190 are tilted somewhat awayfrom being oriented within a plane parallel with a plane in which thearms 170 to which the paddles 190 attach, are located. Also, a pair ofpaddles 190 are provided for each pair of arms 170 with the mixer 160″and a pair of nozzles 180 are provided on sides of the arms 170 oppositethe paddles 190.

In FIG. 18 a further alternative embodiment mixer 160′″ is depicted.With the mixer 160′″ only two pairs of arms 170 are provided with asingle paddle 190 coupled to each pair of arms 170. However, multiplenozzles 180 are provided on each arm 170 extending away from the arms170 on a side thereof opposite the paddles 190. The nozzles 180themselves provide mixing, while the paddles 190 also provide mixing.The nozzles 180 and/or the motor 164 also cause rotation of the entiremixer 160′″ (about arrow V). The mixer 160 (such as those depicted inFIGS. 15-18) provides a second step in the preparation of polymer geland water within the tank 120. A first step involves shearing of thepolymer gel emulsion and water for full activation of the polymer gelemulsion and water. The second step in this preparation process involvesfull homogenous mixing of polymer gel and water within the tank 120 sothat the water and polymer gel can have maximized efficacy when droppedfrom the tank 120 for fighting wildfire (along arrow D of FIG. 1).

With reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, a third accumulator 200 is describedaccording to a further alternative embodiment. With the thirdaccumulator 200, rather than merely storing polymer gel emulsion underpressure, the accumulator 200 also stores activated polymer gel whichhas been activated with water in a pressurized activated polymer gelaccumulator separate from the gel emulsion vessel 30. In particular,with the third accumulator 200, a high energy water feed line 201 suchas supplied from a water intake 12 on a float or other lower surface ofthe aircraft A (FIG. 1), or a pitot tube type inlet coupled to theaircraft A feeds high energy water into the third accumulator 200. Acheck valve in this high energy water feed line 201 allows water to flowin but to maintain pressure within the high energy water feed line 201past the check valve, unless a solenoid bypass is opened to allow waterpressure to subside and excess water to drain out.

This high energy water feed line 201 is split into two paths including afirst path 202 and a second path 204. The first path 202 leads to afirst chamber 203 of a polymer gel emulsion accumulator enclosure. Thisenclosure has two halves including a first chamber 203 and a secondchamber 205. A piston, or pair of pistons (or other movable barrier), isinterposed between the first chamber 203 and second chamber 205,preferably with a biasing element (such as a spring) biasing this pistonor other barrier in a first position closer to the first chamber 203 andwith the second chamber 205 filled with polymer gel emulsion. The firstpath 202 leads to the first chamber 203 and the second chamber 205 isopen to the feed line 32 from the gel emulsion vessel 30 (FIGS. 1 and2).

The second path 204 passes to a junction where the feed line 32 andpolymer gel emulsion from the second chamber 205 can be combined withthe high energy water from the second path 204 leading from the highenergy water feed line 201, and then into an activated polymer gelreservoir 206. This activated polymer gel reservoir 206 is fed from aninlet downstream from the junction of the second path 204 and the feedline 32. An exit 207 passes out of the activated polymer gel reservoir206. This activated polymer gel reservoir 206 includes a piston or othermoving sealed element therein, preferably with air above this piston,but alternatively with some other biasing element such as a spring abovethe piston.

The inlet includes double bends 208 thereon so that as the combinationof high energy water from the second path 204 and the polymer gelemulsion from the feed line 32 are carried together through the inletinto the activated polymer gel reservoir 206, activation is caused bypassage through these double bends 208 and the associated high shearthat occurs when passing through these sharp double bends 208. The exit207 leads to an output 209 from the third accumulator 200.

FIG. 19 shows the third accumulator 200 in a first state with the secondchamber 205 charged with polymer gel emulsion and the activated polymergel reservoir 206 at least partially empty. When high energy waterpasses into the high energy water feed line 201, such as by the aircraftA coming into contact with a body of water at a high velocity, thepiston or other movable barrier between the first chamber 203 and thesecond chamber 205 is caused to move upward along arrow Y. Furthermore,this causes polymer gel emulsion to pass out of the second chamber 205and into the feed line 32 where it then passes to the junction and iscombined with the high energy water from the second path 204 and is thenfed through the double bends 208 into the activated polymer gelreservoir 206. This causes the piston or other movable element withinthe activated polymer gel reservoir 206 to move upward (along arrow Z ofFIG. 20) and to cause the activated polymer gel reservoir 206 to befilled with activated polymer gel.

With the solenoid between the exit 207 and the output 209 initiallyclosed, and with check valves provided in the second path 204 and thefeed line 32, the activated polymer gel reservoir 206 holds pressurizedactivated polymer gel therein. When an operator desires to haveactivated polymer gel passed into the tank 20 (FIGS. 1 and 2) thissolenoid is transitioned to an open state and the activated polymer gelis allowed to pass from the activated polymer gel reservoir 206, throughthe exit 207, through the output 209 and on into the tank 20.

In such an embodiment, the water pump 50 could be reduced in size oreliminated, and no need would exist for the double elbows 55 downstreamof this water pump 50 (FIG. 2). Rather, energy for such water passageinto the tank 20 would be supplied by hydrodynamic forces which arestored within this activated polymer gel reservoir 206 in the form ofhigh pressure activated polymer gel therein. Thus, limited power on theaircraft A could be utilized to power other systems such as the mixer160 (FIGS. 15-18) or the air compressor 40.

Furthermore, to optimize the utilization of limited power available onthe aircraft A, batteries can be supplied which can be charged inadvance when the vehicle is on the ground, or charged at some time whenthe aircraft A is not requiring other accessories thereon to draw power.Then when various power drawing accessories are required, such as theair compressor 40, water pump 50 or power to turn the mixer 160, suchbatteries can be discharged to assist in powering these auxiliarysystems. In this way, the aircraft A can continue to operate close toits original design parameters while still successfully performing themission of gathering water, effectively activating polymer gel emulsioninto activated polymer gel when release of activated polymer gel isdeemed by an operator to be imminent, and then successfully keptthoroughly mixed within the tank 20 until the aircraft A is over alocation where the activated polymer gel is to be applied.

Referring to FIGS. 21-25, details of an alternative polymer gel emulsionpreparation system 310 are described which features sparging for mixingof the water and activated polymer gel emulsion to keep the water andactivated polymer gel emulsion in a homogenous state while carriedwithin a tank 320 borne by the aircraft A. The tank 320 could have anyof a variety of different geometries but is generally shown forconvenience as a shape close to that of a cube.

The tank 320 includes walls 322 extending up from a floor 324. an outletpipe 326 is provided to draw liquid from the tank 320. In a preferredembodiment this outlet pipe 326 is elongate and extends horizontallywithin a lower portion of the tank 320 most distant from a wall mountedtower acting as a sparging assembly 360 for mixing of the water andpolymer gel emulsion within the tank 320. This outlet pipe 326 mostpreferably has a slit 327 on an underside thereof which draws the liquidinto the outlet pipe 326. An inlet pipe 328 is provided beneath the wallmounted tower to feed the water and polymer gel emulsion back into thetank 320. Ports 329 are preferably provided which extend from the inletpipe 328 for delivery of this liquid back into the tank 320 with somevertical velocity. Overall circulation within the tank 320 is thuspromoted (see FIGS. 24 and 25).

A recirculation pump 350 can be provided between the inlet pipe 328 andthe outlet pipe 326 to impart a desired amount of velocity upon thewater and activated polymer gel emulsion. As an alternative, such arecirculation pump 350 could be avoided and recirculation could bepowered merely by the sparging air itself. Typically, the outlet pipe326 and inlet 328 also can facilitate addition of polymer gel andactivation of that polymer gel. For instance, the tank 320 can beinitially filled with just water, such as that scooped up by theaircraft A, such as through the inlet 12 along arrow I (FIG. 21).

The water can be carried within the tank 320 until an operator of theaircraft A desires to add polymer gel to the water and create the waterand activated polymer gel emulsion. In such a configuration, pump 350would be provided as a dynamic pump which can impart sufficient shear onthe polymer gel to activate the polymer gel and also thoroughly mix itwith the water. In such an instance, concentrated polymer gel would befed upstream of such a pump and the pump would shear the concentratedpolymer gel in the presence of the water also being drawn into the pump350 to create the water and activated polymer gel emulsion. Thereafter,the same pump could be further utilized for recirculation purposes ifdesired, such that the water and activated polymer gel emulsion remainsas a homogenous mixture, even if some time passes between initialcreation of the emulsion and the time and location at which it is to beutilized in a firefighting area. While the pipes 326 and 328 are shown,other forms of inlets and outlets could be provided into and out of thetank 320.

Because water and activated polymer gel emulsion can settle to someextent and have portions thereof with a greater concentration of polymergel and portions thereof with a lesser portion of polymer gel, it isdesirable to provide mixing of this emulsion in many circumstances.However, within an aircraft A power available for auxiliary functionssuch as mixing of the emulsion within the tank 320 can be limited. Inthe embodiment depicted in FIGS. 22-25 a significant portion of thisrequired mixing energy is provided by ram air from outside of theaircraft A as the aircraft A flies through the air. In particular, anair ram 340 is provided outside of the aircraft (FIGS. 21 and 22). AirAA passes into a scoop 342 on a front end of the air ram 340. This scoop342 leads into a flexible line 344 which passes down into the tank andenters the tank 320 at an entry 346.

To both promote full recirculation of all portions of the interior ofthe tank 320 and avoid dead spots, as well as to cause all of the liquidover time to experience a high degree of sparging mixing, a spargingassembly 360 is provided, in this embodiment shown as a wall mountedhollow tower. An upper portion of the sparging assembly 360 isconfigured with a float 364 so that it functions as a movable upper partof the hollow tower and remains near an upper surface of liquid withinthe tank 320. A curve 365 is provided adjacent to this float 364 so thatliquid moving through the sparging assembly 360 moves vertically upwarduntil it reaches an upper end thereof and then is deflected in asubstantially horizontal direction by the curve 365 so that the spargedliquid is moving substantially horizontally as it exits the spargingassembly 360. A recirculating rotational flow is thus stimulated withinthe tank which causes substantially all of the liquid within the tank topass up through the sparging assembly 360 along a portion of itsrecirculating path within the tank 320 (see FIGS. 24 and 25).

The sparging assembly 360 in this embodiment includes a fixed housing370 defining a fixed lower part of the hollow tower on a lower portionthereof and a floating housing 380 functioning as the movable upper partof the hollow tower on an upper portion thereof. The fixed housing 370preferably has a rectangular cross-section with an open floor 372adjacent to the inlet pipe 328. Panels 374 extend up from the open floor372 to an upper rim 376. Typically, this fixed housing 370 is affixed toone of the walls 322 of the tank 320, such as through fixing pins 387.Alternatively or in addition, the fixed housing 370 can also be fixed inposition by mounting to the inlet pipe 328. Furthermore, slidingcoupling of the floating housing 380 to the fixed housing 370 to someextent assists in fixing the fixed housing 370 in position.

The floating housing 380 has a configuration similar to that of thefixed housing 370 with a rectangular cross-section, but is slightlylarger to allow it to telescope over (or optionally alternativelywithin) the fixed housing 370. The floating housing 380 has a lower rim382 which overlies the upper rim 376 of the fixed housing 370. Sides 384extend up from the lower rim 382 up to an upper end of the floatinghousing 380 which includes the float 364 and curve 365 thereon. Thiscurve 365 provides a lateral output 385 from the floating housing 380.Guide pins 386 on the floating housing 380 ride within tracks 388mounted on the wall 322 of the tank 320 to keep the floating housing 380from moving in any manner other than vertically upwardly and downwardly(along arrow EE of FIGS. 22, 24 and 25).

With such a configuration, a sparging zone is provided adjacent to theentry 346 where pressurized air from the air line 344 (which originallyentered the system at the scoop 342 of the air ram 340) enters into thefloating housing 380 upstream of the lateral output 385. This spargingzone is characterized by high energy air entering into the floatinghousing 380 as the water and activated polymer gel emulsion are movingup through the floating housing 380, after rising up through the fixedhousing 370, either due to natural circulation within the tank 320 ordue to velocity imparted by flow from the ports 329 of the inlet pipe328 (preferably both).

High velocity air and recirculating liquid interact for sparging withthe bubbles BB of air, causing intimate mixing and homogenization of thewater and activated polymer gel emulsion. This liquid then existsthrough the lateral output 385 in a substantially horizontal direction(along with the bubbles BB and following arrows CC (FIGS. 24 and 25). Tocomplete the recirculation route, these arrows CC show how the liquideventually reaches an opposite wall of the tank 322 and then are routeddownward to create circular flow within the tank and return to the openlower end of the fixed housing 370 or be drawn into the slit 327 of theoutlet pipe 326. In either event, recirculation occurs withsubstantially no dead spots within the tank 320.

When the aircraft A reaches a location over a firefighting area wherethe water and activated polymer gel emulsion is to be discharged, doors(or other discharge) in the floor 324 of the tank 320 can be opened fordischarge from the tank 320 (along arrow D of FIG. 21). The liquid beingdischarged is a fully mixed and homogenous water and activated polymergel emulsion for maximum firefighting effectiveness.

With particular reference to FIGS. 26-29, details of a furtheralternative preparation system 410 are described according to analternative embodiment. With this system 410, details are similar tothose disclosed with regard to the preparation system 310 of FIGS. 22-25except where distinctly disclosed herein. In this embodiment, a mixingtower is provided which is spaced from walls 322 of the tank 320. Asparging assembly 420 is provided which is in the form of a column(shown with a circular cross-section but conceivably with a square orother uniform cross-section, and extending vertically). Typically, thissparging assembly 420 is located within a geometric center of the tank320, but could be provided as one of multiple sparging assemblies 420 toavoid dead spots within the tank. Also, while this sparging assembly isshown within a center of the tank it is conceivable that it could beprovided within corners of the tank 320 or otherwise be strategicallyplaced for substantially complete circulation of all of the liquidwithin the tank 320.

The sparging assembly 420 includes struts 426 which couple it to thewalls 322 of the tank 320 at lower portions thereof and with a float 424at an upper portion thereof to keep upper portions of the spargingassembly 420 adjacent to a surface of liquid within the tank 320. Atoroidal curve 425 is provided adjacent to the float 424 to act as adeflector so that liquid moving vertically up through the spargingassembly 420 is deflected to travel substantially horizontally afterleaving the sparging assembly 420.

The sparging assembly 420 of this embodiment is particularly configuredto include a fixed column 430, providing a fixed lower part on a lowerportion thereof and a floating column 440 providing a movable upper parton an upper portion thereof.

The fixed column 430 has an open floor 432 with a cylindrical wall 434extending upward from the open floor 432 to an upper rim 436. Thefloating column 440 is sized slightly larger (or smaller) in diameterthan the fixed column 430 so that it can ride and telescope verticallyrelative to the fixed column 430. The floating column 440 includes alower rim 442 which overlaps with the upper rim 436 and has an enlargedlip 446 so that it rides on an outside of the fixed column 430. Acylindrical side 444 of the floating column 440 extends up to a lateraloutput 448 adjacent to the toroidal curve 425 and the float 424. A guideslot 445 is provided on the floating column 440 which interacts with aguide rib 435 on the fixed column 430 (or vice versa) to keep thefloating column 440 from rotating about a vertical axis relative to thefixed column 430.

The entry 346 of the air line 344 leading from the scoop 342 of the airram 340 (FIGS. 21, 22 and 26) enters into the floating column 440upstream of the lateral output 448 and just below the toroidal curve425. Preferably, this entry 346 in this embodiment is verticallydownward at a central axis of the floating column 440. Energized airshoots out of the bottom of this entry 346 and then the low densitynature of the air causes it to float up to the surface in the form ofbubbles BB while the water and activated polymer gel emulsion aretraveling upward through these columns 430, 440 of the sparging assembly420. The bubbles BB thus come into intimate contact with the liquid andcause thorough mixing and homogenization of the water and activatedpolymer gel emulsion.

The liquid and bubbles together then pass through the lateral output 448being deflected by the toroidal curve 425 to extend substantiallyhorizontally to the surface of the liquid within the tank 320.Recirculation then occurs (following arrows CC of FIGS. 28 and 29) backdown to the floor 324 of the tank for entry into the open floor 432 ofthe fixed column 430 and completion of the circuit. Such motion merelyby action of the sparging air can in one embodiment provide all of therecirculation needed to cause all of the liquid within the tank toexperience sparging and mixing thereof.

To enhance this flow, a recirculation pump 450 can be provided with anintake line 452 drawing liquid from adjacent to the floor 324 of thetank 320, feeding it to the recirculation pump 450 for pressurizationand discharge out of the output line 454 which preferably feeds backinto the fixed column 430 just above the open floor 432. Thus,recirculating flow is boosted by such a recirculation pump 450, withsome of the flow passing through the recirculation pump 450 and some ofthe flow merely being encouraged by this high velocity flow coming outof the output line 454 of the recirculation pump 450 to cause the liquidto enter the open floor 432 of the fixed column 430 and move upwardthrough the sparging assembly 420.

This recirculation pump 450 could be provided just for recirculation orcould also function as the pump of a dynamic nature imparting sufficientshear upon the polymer gel concentrate to fully activate the polymer geland form the water and activated polymer gel emulsion. As can be seen inFIGS. 28 and 29, the float 424 keeps the floating column 440 at aconstant depth within the liquid inside the tank 320. A telescopingmotion (along arrows EE of FIGS. 28 and 29) keeps the generalcirculation path in order whether the tank 320 is filled to a high levelor a low level. Furthermore, the air is never caused to enter so deeplybelow a surface of liquid within the tank that velocity of the air isstalled by the pressure within the liquid at an excessive depth.

With particular reference to FIG. 30, an alternative to mixing bysparging is disclosed in the form of a mixing impeller 460. This mixingimpeller 460 is located within the sparging assembly 420 with a driveshaft driven by a motor 462. Hydraulic lines 464 or other power can besupplied to the motor 462. Other details of such a mixing systemutilizing a mixing impeller 460 would be similar to those disclosed withthe alternative preparation system 410 disclosed in FIGS. 26-29. Themixing impeller 460 could be provided along with the recirculation pump450 or could act as the recirculation pump so that the recirculationpump 450 would not be needed.

FIG. 31 discloses a further modification of the alternative preparationsystem 410 which still utilizes the fixed column 430 and floating column440, but without sparging, but rather placing a pump 510 within thefixed column 430 of the sparging assembly 420. This pump 510 is fed withboth a concentrated polymer gel line 512 and hydraulic lines 514 tocause the pump 510 to operate. The pump draws water in at a lowerportion thereof and expels an emulsion of water and activated polymergel out from an upper portion thereof.

The pump 510 would include a dynamic impeller, such as an axial orcentrifugal pump impeller which imparts sufficient shear on the gelconcentrate in the presence of water to activate the polymer gel and toproduce the water and activated polymer gel emulsion within the pump510. Such a pump 510 would also provide recirculation through thecolumns 430, 440 and can continue to maintain homogenization of thewater and activated polymer gel emulsion over time, such as byperiodically having the pump 510 operate after it has initially operatedto create the water and activated polymer gel emulsion.

In one typical use, the tank 320 would initially be filled with water.When it is desired by an operator to add activated polymer gel emulsionto the water, the pump 510 would be utilized to add the gel concentrate,and activate the gel concentrate in presence of water to produce thewater and activated polymer gel emulsion. This emulsion would then becarried within the tank 320 until it is ready to be discharged at afirefighting area. This emulsion can maintain its fully mixed state byfurther operation of the pump 510 (either continuously or periodically)to keep the liquid fully mixed before utilization thereof for maximumfirefighting effectiveness.

FIG. 32 discloses an alternative to the wall mounted sparging assembly360 of FIGS. 22-25 where, instead of sparging, a pump 610 is providedwithin the tower comprised of the fixed lower part and movable upperpart. In this embodiment of FIG. 32, the pump 610 is provided within avertically extending portion of a lower manifold 620 which is in fixedposition adjacent the floor 324 of the tank 320. This lower manifold 320draws liquid in from a lower portion thereof, such as through a slit. Ahybrid column 630 is thus provided which has some attributes of thecolumns 430, 440 of the system 410 and some attributes of the housing370, 380 of the system 310. This hybrid column 360 extends up from alower manifold 620.

An upper manifold 640 telescopes vertically relative to the hybridcolumn 630 lower manifold 620. The upper manifold 640 includes lateralports 650 which direct liquid therefrom, preferably in a substantiallyhorizontal direction. Tracks 670 support the upper manifold 640 allowingit to float similar to the floating housing 380 (FIGS. 21-25).Importantly, the pump 610 includes an impeller 660 therein and ispowered by hydraulic lines 664, and also can include a gel line 662 sothat the pump 610 provides not only mixing and recirculation, but alsoactivation (by imparting sufficient shear) of the polymer gelconcentrate to form the water and activated polymer gel emulsion.Thereafter, the pump 610 can be utilized for recirculation and mixing ofthe water and activated polymer gel emulsion within the tank 320.

With particular reference to FIGS. 33 and 34, details of a rotary wingaircraft RR fitted with a tank 720 are disclosed including many of thefeatures of previous embodiments of this invention. In this embodiment,the rotary wing aircraft RR is in the form of a helicopter with anengine such as a turbine engine TT. This rotary wing alternative system710 includes appropriately modified subsystems correlating with those ofthe system 310 (FIGS. 21-25) and the system 410 (FIGS. 26-29). In thisrotary wing alternative 710, the tank 720 is elongate in form with alongest dimension extending horizontally and in a common direction withforward and rearward travel of the rotary wing aircraft RR. Typically,such a tank 720 is fitted with a snorkel 725 with a snorkel pump 727acting as an intake pump for intake of water into the tank 720. Such atank 720 can also be fitted with a nozzle 770 for discharge of water or(most preferably) water and activated polymer gel emulsion, along arrowSS of FIGS. 33 and 34. Equipment to add polymer gel concentrate andactivate it are also provided, similar to those subsystems disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 9,192,797 and 9,022,133 and U.S. patent application Ser.Nos. 14/183,299; 14/449,977; 14/616,271; 14/623,766 and 14/747,794,incorporated herein by reference.

In general, these related systems include a polymer gel concentratevessel 712 with a gel line 714 extending from the gel vessel 712 down tothe tank 720, and potentially down into the intake pump 727 of thesnorkel 725 for activation thereof, or alternatively with other dynamicpumps within the tank 720.

To promote mixing within the rotary wing alternative 710, anappropriately modified sparging assembly is preferably provided. Inparticular, a high pressure gas supply 730 is provided adjacent to theturbine engine TT of the rotary wing aircraft RR. This high pressure gassupply 730 would typically be “bleed air” tapped off of the aircompressor on upstream portions of the turbine engine TT, but could besome other flow of air or other gas caused by the turbine engine TT.Typically this high pressure gas supply 730 has an excessively hightemperature which is generally undesirable. Thus, most preferably a heatexchanger 740 is provided with heat transfer fins or other heatexchanger features thereon which cause a significant portion of heatwithin the high pressure gas supply 730 to be transferred to surroundingair outside of the rotary wing aircraft RR.

Cooled high pressure gas (typically primarily if not entirely air) thenenters the tank 720 through the entry 736. This entry 736 can beconfigured along with a sparge assembly 760 which has a configurationsimilar to that of the sparge assembly 360 (FIGS. 22-25) exceptappropriately modified to accommodate the geometry of the tank 720, suchas by having a shorter form relative to other portions of the tank 720.If desired, multiple such sparge assemblies 760 could be provided in theform of wall mounted sparge assemblies or free standing spargeassemblies spaced from the wall, such as the sparge assembly 420 (FIGS.26-29). Operation of the sparge assembly 760 would occur similar to thatof sparge assemblies 360, 420 of previously disclosed embodiments.

As a further embodiment and with reference to FIG. 35, either inaddition to the sparge assembly 760 or as an alternative to, manualmixing can be provided within the tank 720 (shown in dashed lines)carried by the rotary wing aircraft RR. This manual mixing assembly 810generally includes mixers 820 which include parallel axles 860 with arms830 extending therefrom and paddles 840 at extreme ends of the arms 830.A motor or motors 850 are provided to cause rotation of the mixers 820with the paddles 840 impacting the liquid within the tank 720 to causemixing thereof. Rotation could be in a common direction or acounter-rotating direction, depending on the geometry of the tank andlocation of other equipment therein, with the goal of avoiding deadspots within the tank 720 and promoting thorough mixing of the water andactivated polymer gel emulsion within the tank 720.

While the tank 720 is disclosed as an elongate fixed tank carried infixed position on a lower portion of the rotary wing aircraft RR, suchas above and between skids thereof, it is conceivable that mixingsystems such as those disclosed herein could be provided within a vesselsuspended from the rotary wing aircraft RR, such as a bucket. Either acolumn type sparging assembly could be provided with such a bucket at acentral portion thereof or a wall mounted sparging assembly could beprovided along a wall of such a bucket. If sparging is utilized formixing, high pressure air or other gas lines provided for sparging couldmerely be extended down to such a suspended vessel for utilization inmixing of the water and activated polymer gel emulsion within such asuspended vessel.

This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of theinvention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thusdescribed the invention in this way, it should be apparent that variousdifferent modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of this invention disclosure. Whenstructures are identified as a means to perform a function, theidentification is intended to include all structures which can performthe function specified. When structures of this invention are identifiedas being coupled together, such language should be interpreted broadlyto include the structures being coupled directly together or coupledtogether through intervening structures. Such coupling could bepermanent or temporary and either in a rigid fashion or in a fashionwhich allows pivoting, sliding or other relative motion while stillproviding some form of attachment, unless specifically restricted.

What is claimed is: 1: A method for fighting fire with an aircraft, themethod including the steps of: loading a polymer gel containingcomposition into a container onboard the aircraft; flying the aircraftto a body of water; filling a reservoir on the aircraft at leastpartially with water from a body of water; combining at least a portionof the polymer gel containing composition from the container with atleast a portion of the water from the reservoir; flying the aircraft toa drop location; and dropping combined water and polymer gel containingcomposition at the drop location. 2: The method of claim 1 wherein saidcombining step includes pumping the polymer gel containing compositionfrom the container into the water reservoir with a dosing pump. 3: Themethod of claim 2 wherein said dosing pump is located inside of thewater reservoir. 4: The method of claim 3 wherein a polymer gel lineextends downstream from the dosing pump, the polymer gel line located atleast partially inside of the water reservoir. 5: An airbornefirefighting system, comprising in combination: an aircraft; a polymergel composition container, said polymer gel composition containerlocated onboard said aircraft; a water reservoir, said water reservoirlocated onboard said aircraft; a water fill inlet upstream of said waterreservoir; a controller for flow of polymer gel composition from saidpolymer gel composition container to said water reservoir; and adischarge for combined water and polymer gel composition from saidaircraft. 6: The system of claim 5 wherein a polymer gel compositionline extending from said polymer gel composition container to said waterreservoir; and wherein a dosing pump is located to advance polymer gelcomposition along side polymer gel composition line. 7: The system ofclaim 6 wherein said dosing pump is coupled to said controller. 8: Thesystem of claim 6 wherein said dosing pump is located inside of saidwater reservoir. 9: The system of claim 8 wherein said polymer gelcomposition line is located at least partially inside of said waterreservoir.